The July Uprising

 

The July Uprising, also known as the student quota protest, one thing that stands out is the incredible power of communication. Now  I will discuss the different mediated communication methods that I believe were most effective in making the uprising successful.

                                                                            

 Social Media: In The Driving Force of the Movement

the most effective communication tool during the July Uprising was social media. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were not just tools—they were the lifeblood of the movement, allowing us to organise, amplify our message, and connect with a broader audience both nationally and internationally.

Additionally, Facebook events played a crucial role in organising protests. By facebook, local students was invited to gather. The event went viral, attracting thousands of participants in a matter of hours. Through the event page, students could communicate the time, location, and purpose of the protest clearly, which significantly boosted turnout and morale. The ease and immediacy of using Facebook for such purposes allowed students to mobilise quickly and efficiently, something that would have been far more challenging with traditional communication methods.

 

Messaging Apps: The Backbone of Organization

While social media was the public face of our movement, messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram were the backbone of our organisation. These platforms allowed us to plan and strategize in a secure, private manner, which was crucial when dealing with sensitive information.

 

Telegram, with its superior encryption features, was particularly useful for larger groups and channels. These channels were crucial during police crackdowns; it enabled students to quickly regroup and relocate to safer areas. The ability to communicate in real time, securely and discreetly, was a major asset that kept the movement alive even during the most challenging moments.

    Traditional Media: Amplifying Our Voice

While social media and messaging apps were vital for organising and sustaining the movement, traditional media played a critical role in amplifying our voice to a broader audience, including those who were less active on digital platforms. Television was also crucial, especially in reaching older generations who weren’t as engaged with social media. Many parents of the students, who were initially sceptical about the protests, watching a news report on television. The sight of thousands of students, united and peaceful, deeply moved them. It was happening across the country as more people began to see the movement not just as a student issue, but as a broader fight for justice.

 

Moreover, the presence of journalists at the protests acted as a safeguard. There were moments when tensions could have escalated into violence, but the knowledge that cameras were rolling kept the situation in check. The media’s role as a watchdog ensured that any attempt at repression would be met with public outrage, which in turn restrained the authorities from using excessive force.

 

Visual Media: Capturing the Movement

 

Another powerful tool was visual media—photos and videos that captured the raw reality and emotions of the movement. These visuals were more than just documentation; they told the story of our struggle in a way that words alone couldn’t.

 

The Combination of Communication Modes: The Core of the Movement

 

The success of the July Uprising wasn’t due to any single mode of communication, but rather the combination of all these tools working together. Each medium had its strengths, and together they created a robust, multi-faceted approach that was hard to silence.

Social media helped students organise, messaging apps kept them connected, traditional media amplified their message, and visual media captured the essence of the struggle. The interplay between these modes was crucial.

 

The Power of Mediated Communication

 

Looking back at the July Uprising, it’s clear that mediated communication was the lifeblood of this movement. Social media, messaging apps, traditional media, and visual media all played distinct roles, but together they created a powerful, multi-layered strategy that propelled the movement forward.

 

The success of this uprising wasn’t just about the demands we made; it was also about how we communicated those demands. The communication tools we chose reflected the values of our movement—transparency, solidarity, and determination. In this sense, the uprising was not just a fight over quota reforms; it was a testament to the power of people who, armed with the right communication tools, refused to be silenced.